Follow Us

This Team USA Long Jumper and Olympic Gold Medalist Battled Homelessness Prior to Winning World Championship

One of the young women who dominated last year’s Olympic Games in Rio with an overwhelming dose of her #BlackGirlMagic finished strong again at last weekend’s world championship competitions at the annual showcase from the International Association of Athletics Federations.

This year’s world championship tournaments were held in London, England.Tianna Bartoletta (pictured) used her uncanny physical ability to trounce the competition as a long jumper in the 2016 Olympic Games. Bartolotta took home a gold medal and helped Team USA edge out the long jumpers from other nations during a truly historic summer for black American women in Rio.

However, for Bartolotta, winning the gold at last year’s glory-filled long jumping competition was not her most meaningful victory. In fact, it was a bronze medal victory at this year’s London-based competition for the International Association of Athletics Federations, which gave Bartolotta her most valuable sense of joy and triumph. She was crying real tears when she was finally awarded her medal after a strong performance in London last weekend.

According to the Washington Post, the 31-year-old world-class athlete posted a message on her Instagram page after winning the bronze, which gave the reasons behind her tears during the medal ceremony. “[Y]ou may find it hard to believe but this Bronze medal is THE most special medal I have ever won. Because just three short months ago I had to run away from my own home – I had to decide which of ALL my belongings were the most important,” Bartolotta wrote.

“I had to leave my dogs, I had little money, I still have no actual address, all to give myself a chance at having a life and the love I deserved — one that didn’t involve fear or fighting, threats, and abuse.I took a huge gamble blowing my life up in such an important year for me career-wise. But it was about time for me to see that I was worth it. It was worth it. Thanks so much for riding with me,” she continued in her Instagram message to fans.

Bartolotta talked exclusively and in detail with BBC Sports about the personal struggles she has overcome while continuing to pursue a successful career as a world-class athlete. You can read more on Bartolotta’s amazing and virtuous story by visiting the second research source link for this article, which is given below.